World-number-one golfer Tiger Woods and defending British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa are within five shots of the lead heading into Saturday's third round in Sandwich, England.

They are among many golfers in that category, chasing leader Davis Love at the halfway point in the tournament. The American golfer, winner of the 1997 PGA championship, has a two-shot lead over Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and SK Ho of South Korea.

Love is the only player under par, with a two-round total of 141, one-under. He managed a one-over-par, 72 on Friday at the Royal St. George's course, which played tough due to difficult pin placements on quickening greens.

Woods is one of five golfers tied for 11th place, four shots off the lead. Els, who had the best round of the day with a 68, is among a dozen players another shot back.

Some of the other top players still in the hunt are Sergio Garcia of Spain, three shots off the lead; Vijay Singh of Fiji, tied with Woods at three over par; and American Phil Mickelson along with Nick Price of Zimbabwe tied with Els at four over par (146).

American Cindy Figg-Currier and South Korean Hee-Won Han share the half-way lead of the Ladies Golf tour event in New Rochelle, New York.

They are at 8-under-par, 134 after two rounds of the Big Apple Classic, while American veteran Beth Daniel is alone in second place, two shots off the lead.